Public Life Study

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) believes that streets and sidewalks full of social and commercial activity have the power to improve the city’s health, prosperity, and happiness.

In the summer of 2018, SDOT collected data on our streets and sidewalks across the city. This type of research—called a public life study—documents the number of people using our public spaces and the types of activities they are engaged in. Our Guide for Data Collectors provides complete details on how the study was conducted. The results provide SDOT with people-centered data to make investment decisions, evaluate designs and interventions, and understand what makes a successful public space.

Data

The data collected is consistent with the Public Life Data Protocol developed in a partnership with the Gehl Institute, the City of San Francisco, the City of Copenhagen and SDOT, which establishes a common format and structure for public life data to better facilitate comparisons across different cities and regions. You can find information about public life study methods on the Gehl Institute’s website.

City-Wide Information

Top Requests

The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) develops, maintains, and operates a transportation system that promotes the mobility of people and goods, and enhances the quality of life, environment, and economy of Seattle. In June 2002, SDOT was created by combining transportation planning from the former Strategic Planning Office with the former Seattle Transportation Department to bring a more comprehensive approach to transportation service delivery. A major element of SDOT's creation was the establishment of the Policy, Planning, and Major Projects division, which is charged with transportation system planning and providing increased control and influence over major projects under construction in Seattle.